I had high hopes this year for my trial of new-to-us Eastern
European tomoto varieties. Down at our allotment at Monk
Coniston Walled Garden we are trying 'Koralik'
outside - watch this space for report - but up at Lawson Park's
polytunnel this year we grew 'Father Frost' and the trusty
yellow cherry tomato, 'Sungold'.

These pictures tell you all you need to know, and from past
experience we will be picking Sungold right up to Christmas time.
'Father Frost' - like other Eastern European variteties -
promised hardiness and vigour which I hoped would match our very
tomato-unfriendly climate. At first it indeed grew very well and
produced many offshoots which one is advised not to pinch out - in
other words instead of the traditional cordon you got a rather
unwieldy but promising bush. The problem was that by the time of
ripening in August, the close foliage was getting mildewy and
shading the fruits, and in addition fruit was rather haphazardly
shaped and distributed. Eventually a meagre harvest was gleaned of
dull-flavoured fruit.

Take in contrast the elegant 'Sungold' - a far sparser
plant, almost straggly after its late January sowing. Both varities
were deep-plated out in late May with the first 15cm of their stems
buried in the enriched soil. Removing side shoots keeps the plant
in shape and allows air and light to the fruits, which up here
don't even think about ripening till very late August. But boy are
they worth the wait.

I'm reminded that of course 'Sungold' has the RHS Award
of Garden Merit (AGM) and more the fool me for not choosing other
varieties that share this most trustworthy of endorsements - note
to self, to refer to the
list of all AGM tomatoes before browsing next year's seed
catalogues....